Blood dripping. Hey! Did he met that many zombies on his way? Wait! Did they followed him here? I wanted to cuss out so badly. However, I managed to held it in. Did my best. He was alone. His wavy red hair was messy but his overall look was neat and tidy, minus the few drop of blood that seem to splatter on his jacket.

“Um… Hello?” I said. My mind still thinking about the zombies that possibly chasing after him to properly greeted him.

He noticed how I kept looking out of the door. Grinning, he quipped, “no worries. Everything had been obliterated.”

“You sure?”

His smile widen, almost creeping me out. “Wanna take a look?”

I shook my head violently. Absolutely hated the idea. “I trust you.”

“That easy?”

“You look strong. Even if they come, you will kill them, right?”

He laid the axe on his shoulder and shoved the other hand into his pocket. Leisurely, he walked closer, muttered, “you alone?”

Nodding, I replied, “mm.”

“Searching for food?”

“Mm… living people too.”

Standing so close that there were only an inch gap between us, he bend over his upper body so his eyes met mine. Two minutes nerve wrecking moment of his gaze pierced through my soul. Now that I have a good look on his face, there was something familiar that reminded me of my darling. For sure it was not the color of his eyes. Like an enchanting demantoid, an andradite garnet variety in vibrant olive green to deep emerald green. A type of gemstones I have only seen in magazine.

Ah! It was the intensity of his gaze. The way he pried his way into my mind through his eyes. It was how my darling would stared at me. “Too close,” I said, pushing him away.

Despite my effort, though, he didn’t budged. Not even a millimeter. Instead, I was the one wobbled backward, almost tripped, but managed to keep my balance. Taking a peek on his face, I caught a glimpsed of him snickering. What amused him? I don’t know.

“Wanna go with me? I’m by myself too.”

There was a conflicting side in my mind that goes against my heart. Staying with him was the mission, yet at the same time it also meant that I would be encountering lots of zombies. I was a bit reluctant. At the same time, my heart strongly convincing me to be by his side. Was it because he reminded me of my darling? I’m not really comfortable with that reasoning. In fact, it would be rude to him.

“Alright.” My response was due to the obligation in finishing the task. Also, to find an answer to this beating heart of mine.

“Good answer. I was wondering what should I do if you don’t want to.”

I regretted immediately. Creep! If he was already this twisted, how worse would it be after the forced fate? Really don’t wished to see that. “Um… Do you have any plan?”

“Plan? What for?”

“Just… maybe about what you want to do after this?”

“After what?”

“Um… Why did you came here?”

“Here? This convenience store?” He added after he saw me nodded, “just looking for something to eat. Stock up. Who knows when we’ll find another place that had enough food, right?”

“After that?”

“Just… wander around.”

“You don’t have any particular place you wanted to go?”

“No. Why? Is there some place you need to go? Is that why you ask? Sure. I’ll accompany you. I’m such a kind gentleman, don’t you agree?”

The way his dead eyes gawking at me, there was no way I could deny that statement. With a crooked smile on my face, I said, “ye—yeah.”

Guess I didn’t managed to say it persuasively, he went silent. Seizing my face into his hand, he squeezed both my cheeks, pushing my lips forward like a puffer fish. “Pft! You look like an idiot.”

Just as I about to slap his hand, howling voices echoed in my ears. I almost fainted when I glanced over his back and saw a horde of zombies scurried toward us. I saw it. The way his lips curved up and how his eyes glinted with fire. The look of passion as his face flushed red. I might be able to understand if those in front was human, after all, some human were more evil than the devil and deserved death sentence, but zombies? What so exciting about slashing and ripping off their head?

Hiding behind a shelf, I became a witness for this gruesome murder. Then, it clicked on my mind. “System, wasn’t Taylor supposed to be superhuman?”

Superhuman, the third category after the red rain poured heavily on earth. Unlike, normal human who remained ordinary as they were, superhuman gained abilities and power that transcend normality. Oh! Second category belong to those who turned into zombies, the first generation zombies. It seems the red rain contained chemical that caused the mutation, however, why there was differences in mutation, still could not be explained. The system doesn’t elucidated the whole thing clearly. Suspicious? I agreed.

[He is.]

“What’s his ability?”

[He had electric type ability, and able to summon or manipulate thunder.]

“Hm? Then… Why didn’t he used it? Still don’t know how?”

[No, host. He only used it when he desired so.]

Ah~ I have read about this kind of character before. One that found joy in using his own strength. Yep. I’m sure of it. No doubt with the way his face lit with exhilaration being drowned in blood. Sword dancing? No, that got to be axe dancing. Slashing to his right, slashing to his left. Stomping every meat on the road. Leaping from one point to another. His movement was swift and decisive, not even a second of hesitation. No fear and not panicking in the midst of zombies swarm. Almost as if he was trained for this.

For a second, I swear I saw a flicker of light, glowing from his eyes as he glanced toward my direction. Was it the trick of light? Maybe just my imagination. He beckoned to me to come closer, so I did. Despite wearing a boot with thick sole, I could felt the sticky liquid and lump of meat for every step I took. The smell made my throat dry and queasy. Worse than a rotten meat left to decay. Mainly because it was mixed with the metallic scent of blood. I’ve done my best to cover my mouth and nose, yet, the scent was strong still. Guts and organs laying around, separated from body. I wished I could unseen.

As I stood by his side, he stretched his hand toward my cheek. I took a step back, said, “wash yourself first.”

Blinking his eyes, he stared down at his hand stained with blood. “Hm…” Grinning, he added, “let’s look for a place to rest. With water.”